Flu is a killer - "very high" in Rhode Island, jamming hospitals
Outpatient visits for flulike illness have been above the
national baseline for 9 weeks in a row. Of samples that tested positive for flu
at public health labs, nearly all were influenza A, and subtyped influenza A
samples were about evenly split between the H3N2 and 2009 H1N1 strains.
On the CDC's flu activity map, most of the country is awash
in shades of red that reflect high or very high activity. However, some states
are shaded purple, the highest level on the activity scale. They include
Southeastern states such as Louisiana, South Carolina, and Tennessee, but also
several in the Northeast, including Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and
New Hampshire.
16 more pediatric flu deaths
The CDC reported 16 more pediatric flu deaths, which push
the season's total to 47. The deaths occurred between the middle of December
and the week ending January 25. All involved influenza A, and, of 13 subtyped
samples, 7 were H1N1 and 6 were H3N2.
For deaths overall, the level remained steady, with flu
making up 1.6% of all deaths last week.
Emergency department (ED) visits for flu are at the very high level and are increasing in all age-groups, making up 7% of all ED visits, the CDC said in its weekly respiratory virus snapshot. Meanwhile, hospitalizations for flu remain elevated and are likewise on the rise for all age-groups.
COVID holds steady; RSV ebbs
Though COVID-19 wastewater detections moved from the medium
back into the high category last week, ED visits are still low, highest in
young children and elevated in older people. Meanwhile, hospitalizations for
the virus remain elevated and are highest in seniors. Deaths from COVID trended
downward but still make up 1.6% of all deaths in the United States.
Wastewater levels were
up a bit in all regions and are still highest in the Midwest. The CDC said
activity is likely growing or growing in the Southeast and West, along with
parts of the northeast.
Test positivity for COVID held steady, at 5.4%
For respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which has been a
notable contributor to respiratory virus activity this season, showed downward
trends, with ED visits—highest in children-- and wastewater detections at the
moderate level. Hospitalizations are also highest for children, though levels
are elevated among older people in some parts of the country.